Quality Assurance: Five Crucial Activities For Software Testing

Quality assurance is a crucial part of software testing. Many organisations fail to complete formal reviews until it is too late. For excellent quality assurance, you must have review processes at each stage of the software development and testing process. This can help you to identify areas for concern early on and address them accordingly. Most software testers will follow a formal quality assurance and testing process, which is a great option. However, in addition to this, there are a few other things you can do to improve the overall quality of a piece of software. These are our top five crucial activities for software testing;

Five Must-Do Software Testing Activities

 

1.      Focus On Quality Assurance From The Beginning

Do not leave it too late to start focusing on quality assurance for your software. For a successful product, you should involve quality assurance engineers from the very beginning. At the initial stages in the software development life cycle, let your quality assurance professionals in on your plans and processes going forward. By focusing on quality assurance earlier, you can identify possible complications early on. If you can highlight the parts of the software that are likely to be prone to bugs from the beginning, then you can efficiently manage these going forward. Because quality assurance is such a crucial part of software testing, there are no downsides to focusing on it early. Leaving quality assurance to the final stages of the development cycle can be very problematic. If issues are raised when the software has already been completed, then the design might not allow the necessary changes. Late involvement of quality assurance can force you to have to compromise on other areas.

2.      Properly Plan The Full Testing Process

Software testing all comes down to planning. Make sure you create testing plans which are specific to each level of testing because this will provide the detail you need. Plan unit testing, system testing and more individually, so each area is getting the attention it needs. Each testing level must emphasise how the project plan and testing schema will apply. Within these test plans, you should include the scope of testing. This is because it will help with quality assurance further down the line. The criteria for completion of each testing stage also needs to be specified in the plan. This criterion is vital for determining if each level of testing is complete and so can be marked off.

3.      Prioritise Documentation At Every Stage

Documentation is one of the most important parts of the testing process because it sets out exactly what has been done. It will support software testers in getting in-depth details of the project and understand the ins and outs. Quality assurance relies on documenting the project from initial requirements right through to software testing. It is common for documentation to be dismissed during the early stages because it is deemed unnecessary. The truth is, documentation must be taken seriously right from the start so that the project can run smoothly. Failing to document everything early on can result in critical problems in the later phases. If new developers or software testers join the project, then they will need proper documentation. It will ensure everyone involved is on the same page and help new team members get up to speed easily.

4.      Encourage Communication Between Quality Assurance And Development

All too often, we see a communication gap between software developers and quality assurance professionals. This is because the priorities and focus for both of these teams are very different. Software developers will be satisfied if a piece of software works once, while those in quality assurance are happy if the software fails once. With such differing goals and areas of focus, it is only normal for a communication gap to develop. Encouraging ongoing and open communication between the two teams can avoid misidentified defects and a lack of knowledge. Because the communication between quality assurance and development can impact the overall productivity of a software project, it is crucial that it is encouraged. Transparency throughout the entire project is a must so that everyone is on the same page. Schedule in regular meetings in order to keep track of the status of the project.

5.      Know The Domains Well

Quality assurance teams need to understand the software from the user’s perspective. This means they must have a good understanding and level of knowledge over the domain. Take some time reviewing any online resources for the domain where the test application is based. It is often worthwhile for quality assurance teams to have training about the domain or speak with the domain experts. Specialists in this area will be able to offer advice and guidance to quality assurance professionals. Failing to know the domain well will result in the quality assurance process taking longer and possibly failing to pick up on all errors. Doing all of these activities can help your team deliver high-quality software time and time again. Because quality assurance is one of the most crucial parts of the software testing process, putting appropriate time and effort behind it is a must. At TSG Training, we offer a range of online and classroom courses on software testing. You can choose from a vast selection of software testing courses, including BCS Certificate in Software Testing, Foundation Level Test Techniques are more. If your software testing team needs some guidance on quality assurance or other areas of testing, we are here to help. Get in touch with our team of experts so we can get started on recommending the best options for you. We will get to know your requirements and team so that we can suggest the most appropriate training plan. Whether you have been working in software testing for years or are new to the subject, we have the training for you. Our classes are available as both online and classroom training, so you can choose a method that suits you. Contact us today.